Mud skid

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a skid for transporting and storing pallets. The pallets may be loaded with any cargo but in one example are loaded with drilling mud or its components. The skid comprises a base, and a container on the base defining a plurality of compartments each sized to hold a loaded pallet. The container comprises a floor, interior side walls, and exterior side walls, which together define the compartments. The exterior side walls are situated at the periphery of the skid, and each of the exterior side walls is removable to permit a compartment to be accessed, and a pallet to be easily loaded or unloaded from the periphery of the skid. Pallets may be individually accessed from the outside of the skid, and may be removed from the skid by workers using available equipment, with no need to climb, mount, or enter the skid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/908,378 filed Nov. 25, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a transport skid. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a skid for transporting a plurality of pallets.

BACKGROUND

Drilling fluid is used in the oil and gas industry to facilitate the drilling of wells and other boreholes. Drilling fluids are generally water-based, hydrocarbon-based, or emulsions. The main functions of drilling fluid are to keep the drill bit cool and clean during drilling, to carry out drill cuttings, to suspend the drill cuttings while drilling is paused and when the drilling assembly is brought in and out of the hole, and to provide hydrostatic pressure to prevent formation fluids from entering into the well bore. Drilling fluid is termed “drilling mud”.

Drilling mud (or the components thereof) is generally transported to a drilling site using a conventional enclosed transport truck trailer, termed a “van”. This is left at a drilling site. Drilling mud and its components are typically stored on pallets loaded into the van. However, this arrangement leads to problems. Vans typically cannot be reloaded at a drilling site due to a lack of specialized equipment on site. Leaving a van at a drilling site means that the transport trucks make their return journey with either no van, or, at most, an empty van.

The contents of vans are also difficult to access. Stairs often have to be built to access the van, and the van may need to be lit for workers to be able to properly see the stored contents. A van will typically contain many other items, and its contents can only be accessed through a rear and/or side door. Workers often have to climb over and/or maneuver around other items in the van to get to the desired pallets, and to remove items from the van. This problem of access creates great inconvenience and potential safety hazards.

It is therefore desirable to provide a means of transporting and storing drilling mud or components thereof at a drilling site that is more efficient and/or subject to fewer hazards for workers.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous approaches.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a skid for transporting or storing a plurality of pallets, the skid comprising a base, and a container connected to the base, the container defining a plurality of compartments each sized to hold a loaded pallet, each compartment being openable from a periphery of the skid to permit the pallet to be loaded or unloaded from the periphery of the skid.

In one aspect, the container comprises a floor, interior side walls, and exterior side walls, together defining the compartments, wherein the exterior side walls are situated at the periphery of the skid, and each of the exterior side walls is moveable from a closed position to an open position to permit the pallet to be loaded or unloaded from the periphery of the skid. In a further aspect, the container further comprises support beams extending substantially vertically for retaining the walls of the compartments. In a further aspect, each of the exterior side walls is slidably mounted between two of the support beams. The exterior walls may be removable to allow access to the compartment and its contents. In one aspect, each of the exterior side walls is made of plywood or metal.

In a further aspect, the skids can be stacked and have means to stack one skid on a second skid. In an aspect, at least some of the support beams have stacking means to facilitate stacking of the skid with a second skid.

In a further aspect, the skid further comprises a removable cover.

In another aspect, there is provided a use of the skid as described herein for transporting or storing loaded pallets. The pallets may contain any components but in one aspect, contain drilling mud or its components.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific aspects in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport skid according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an elevated view of the transport skid depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a of the transport skid depicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional rendered perspective view of the transport skid depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There is provided a transport skid for transporting pallets to a site and which may also store the pallets at the site until they are needed.

In one aspect, there is provided a skid for transporting or storing a plurality of pallets, the skid comprising: a base, a container mounted on said base, the container defining a plurality of compartments each sized to hold a loaded pallet, each compartment being accessible from the periphery of the skid to permit the pallet to be loaded onto the skid or unloaded from the skid, from the periphery of the skid.

The base may be of any conventional type used with skids. The base extends generally horizontally, such that is generally parallel with the surface on which is it resting. The base contacts the ground, or the transport vehicle when the skid is loaded thereon, and generally supports the structure of the skid and the cargo stored thereon. The base may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal such as steel. A base 10 is depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The base may be of unitary construction, or may comprise a plurality of separate members. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the base 10 comprises three longitudinal members. Each of the three longitudinal members of base 10 is spaced apart from the adjacent longitudinal member by braces 20. In the Figures, longitudinal members of the base 10 are separated by three braces, though a skilled person would appreciate that this number could be varied. Other types of securing/bracing structures could be used, and would be well known to a skilled person.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, the base 10 may have cross-bars 110 at either end, each having end plates 111. These are of a conventional type.

The container is mounted to the base, and has a plurality of compartments. The compartments are each shaped and sized to hold a loaded pallet. The compartments are easily openable and accessible from the outside the skid, such that a pallet may be loaded onto the skid or unloaded from the skid by a user from the periphery of the skid. There is no need for a worker to climb up, onto, or into the skid to load or unload the skid or to open the compartments. The compartments are accessible from the periphery of the skid to allow pallets to be loaded or unloaded such as by forklift or other means. FIGS. 1 to 3 show container 30 and compartments 40 according to one aspect.

In one aspect, the container comprises: a floor, interior side walls, and exterior side walls which together define the compartments.

The floor is at the bottom of each compartment and supports items loaded therein. The floor may be any suitable material or construction. In one aspect, the floor is a grating, such as metal grating. The floor may be formed of a plurality of panels, or may be of unitary construction. The floor 50 is depicted in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein it comprise a plurality of panels.

The floor may comprise a plurality of floor support members 70. The floor support members may be mounted in any suitable configuration. As depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, each floor support member is mounted on or between the longitudinal members of the base 10. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the floor support members 70 run parallel to one another. The floor support members may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal, such as steel.

The interior side walls are those side walls that separate compartments. FIGS. 1 to 3 depict interior side walls 62 according to one aspect. The interior side walls may be fixed or movable. The interior sidewalls may form individual interior walls between each compartment as shown in the Figures or may also form one wall that extends for more than one compartment. The interior side walls may be made of any suitable material.

The exterior side walls are those walls situated between a compartment and the exterior of the skid, i.e. which form the periphery of the container.

The exterior side walls are each moveable to an open position to permit access to the contents of a compartment. In one aspect, the exterior side walls slide out and are completely removable. As well as providing access to contents, this also facilitates replacement of the walls, as necessary. Alternatively, any sort of side wall movement that permits such access is possible. For instance, the walls may be removable from the skid or they may detach, fold, or swing/rotate e.g. about a hinge to open the compartment. For some types of movement, it may be desirable to provide a securing means to hold the exterior side walls in the closed position. Any type of securing means could be used, including e.g. a bolt, a lock, or a latch.

The exterior side walls may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, the exterior side walls are made of an inexpensive material to facilitate their replacement should damage to a wall occur, e.g. due to collision of a forklift. For example, the exterior side walls may be made of inexpensive metal or plywood. In one particular aspect, they are made of plywood. FIGS. 1 to 3 depict exterior side walls 61 according to one aspect.

When an exterior side wall is moved to the open position, a pallet can be loaded or unloaded from the skid. The loading or unloading may be done from the side of the skid, without the need for a user to climb, mount, or enter the skid itself. When an exterior side wall is moved or removed, it provides sufficient access to the compartment such that a pallet can be easily removed or loaded from the periphery of the skid.

End walls 64 are a subset of exterior side walls positioned at the ends of the skid. These end walls may be fixed or movable to allow access to the compartments and in some aspects, these may be of similar construction and arrangement to other exterior side walls. Therefore, end walls may be of a construction similar to the interior side walls or to the exterior side walls.

The compartments also include vertical support beams. The support beams function to support the interior side walls and/or exterior side walls mounted therebetween. They are therefore mounted in a manner that provides sufficient strength to maintain the walls of the compartments. They may be secured to the floor, or may be directly secured to the base of the skid. They extend substantially vertically to form the compartments. The support beams are spaced regularly about the floor of the container, and may be arranged in a grid-like fashion. The support beams may form each of the corners of each compartment or may be positioned less frequently. They provide support to the walls and therefore are positioned accordingly. In one aspect as shown in the Figures, each of the interior side walls and each of the exterior side walls are retained between vertical support beams. The support beams may be formed of any suitable material.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show vertical support beams 80 wherein the vertical support beams are I-beams. The support beams could also be posts, for example metal posts. In these Figures, three rows of 11 beams 80 are depicted, and are arranged in grid-like fashion. Twenty compartments are formed by the side walls held between the support beams. However, a skilled person would readily appreciate that other configurations would be possible, depending on the desired number and arrangement of compartments. As well, each compartment is sized to receive and hold a pallet but may be sized to receive another container. The size and configuration of the compartments may therefore be designed to accommodate the appropriate container.

The support beams hold the walls using retaining means. The retaining means may be any suitable structure for retaining the walls. For example, the retaining means may be tabs or guides mounted on the support beams to receive and hold the walls in a fixed or slidable manner. A skilled person would be aware that other retaining means could be employed.

In one aspect, each of the exterior side walls is slidably mounted between two of the support beams. Thus, the user may slide a side wall to an open position in order to access a compartment. FIGS. 1 to 3 depict one aspect in which each exterior side wall 61 can slide up to open a compartment 40. In one aspect, each exterior side wall is removable. The wall may be slid out of its engagement with the support beams to remove it in order to access a compartment.

In one aspect, each of the exterior side walls includes at least one handle to facilitate its movement by a user. The handle may be of any conventional type or configuration. For example, the handle may be a grasping structure mounted on the side wall, a portion of the side wall that projects to facilitate gripping, a recess in the wall, or an aperture defined in the wall. There may be one or a plurality of handles on each wall. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the handles are shown as two apertures 63 in each exterior side wall 62.

It may be advantageous, in some circumstances, to stack the transport skids, particularly when not in use. In one aspect, at least some of the vertical support beams comprise stacking means to facilitate stacking of a skid with a second, adjacent skid. Any suitable structure that permits or facilitates one transport skid to be stacked on top of another is encompassed. The stacking means may comprise a system of mating pieces that engage or lock together. The mating pieces may be mating projections or recesses on one skid, and corresponding mating recesses or projections on an adjacent skid for stacking thereon. Alternatively, projections may be provided on one skid to accommodate a portion of an adjacent skid stacked thereon, and thereby prevent/limit relative movement of the skids, when stacked. Any configuration of interlocking, mating, or retaining components that assist in stacking or which help to stabilized a stacked configuration may be employed. Further, the stacking means may be positioned on the support beam, on the floor, or on the base. As depicted most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, stacking tabs 100 are provided on alternating support beams 80, and depend vertically therefrom. The function of the stacking tabs is to facilitate alignment of a lower transport skid with another skid stacked thereon, and to limit relative movement. A skilled person would appreciate that other stacking interconnections that accomplish the same end would also be possible.

In one aspect, the skid further comprises a lid or cover. The cover could be made of any suitable material, for example to protect contents from the elements. The cover may extend over each compartment separately or may cover a portion or all of the skid. In one aspect, the cover is a tarpaulin that extends over the entire skid and fastens to the skid during transport and storage.

The skid can be made to any suitable length, depending on requirements. In one aspect, the skid is sized for transport on a standard flat-deck transport truck trailer. For example, it may be sized for transport on a standard tri-axle hi- or low-boy trailer.

FIG. 4 depicts a rendered view of a skid according to one example.

In another aspect, there is provided a use of the above-described skid for transporting or storing loaded pallets.

In use, compartments of the skid are opened by moving or removing the exterior side walls. A pallet is loaded into each compartment from the periphery of the skid, and the exterior side wall is closed or reinstalled to close the compartment. In this manner, each compartment of the skid can be loaded from the periphery of the skid with a pallet. The skid may then be loaded onto a transport vehicle or trailer. Optionally, a cover to protect against the elements is installed prior to transport. At the destination, the skid is removed (“skidded off”) from the trailer, and may be left on site with the pallets stored thereon, one in each compartment. As the components on the pallets are required, the exterior side wall of a compartment is removed or opened by a worker from the side of the skid to allow an individual pallet stored therein to be easily accessed and removed, for example by forklift or other machinery. Should a side wall become damaged during use, it can be easily and inexpensively replaced.

In one aspect, the pallets are pallets of drilling mud or components thereof. These may be stored in barrels, packets, containers, or bags, for example. The skid provides a means for storing the pallets at a drilling site where the pallets are easily accessible from the periphery/exterior of the skid. There is no need to remove pallets until they are required, and pallets may be accessed and removed one-by-one. There is no requirement for workers to build access stairs or to climb, mount, or otherwise enter the skid structure itself, since all compartments can be easily accessed by workers from the periphery of the skid, or using standard equipment available on site.

An additional advantage is that a skid can be easily reloaded at a drilling site with no specialized equipment. This can reduce or eliminate “bob tailing” inefficiencies, since a truck dropping off one loaded skid could pick up and haul back another skid loaded, e.g., with items from the drilling site loaded by workers. Unlike a conventional van, no specialized equipment is required to load the skid described herein.

In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the transport skid. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required. The above description is intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular aspects by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A skid for transporting or storing a plurality of pallets, the skid comprising: a base; and a container connected to the base, the container defining a plurality of compartments each sized to hold a loaded pallet, each compartment being openable from a periphery of the skid to permit the pallet to be loaded or unloaded from a periphery of the skid.
 2. The skid according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises: a floor; interior side walls; and exterior side walls; together defining the compartments, wherein the exterior side walls are situated at the periphery of the skid, and each of the exterior side walls is moveable from a closed position to an open position to permit the pallet to be loaded or unloaded from the periphery of the skid.
 3. The skid according to claim 2, wherein the container further comprises support beams extending substantially vertically for retaining the walls of the compartments.
 4. The skid according to claim 3, wherein each of the exterior side walls is slidably mounted between two of the support beams.
 5. The skid according to claim 2, wherein each of the exterior side walls is removable to allow access to the compartment.
 6. The skid according to claim 2, wherein each of the exterior side walls is made of plywood or metal.
 7. The skid according to claim 3, wherein at least some of the support beams comprise stacking means to facilitate stacking of the skid with a second skid.
 8. The skid according to claim 1, further comprising a removable cover.
 9. A use of the skid according to claim 1 for transporting or storing loaded pallets.
 10. The use of claim 9, wherein the pallets are pallets of drilling mud or components thereof. 